thoughts about life, art and color

Wonderful, beautiful people, things and moments come into our lives, and poof, before we know it, they’re gone. These two lovelies need to be on the “remember me list” for the dark, dreary days of winter. It’s a beautiful day, one to be stored in my memory and brought out when I need them.

This past week was one of those weeks. You know the kind I mean. You have so much to do that you feel like you’re going in every direction AND you just aren’t feeling well to boot. Of course you do, we all do. I have a spider flower that grows along the walkway entering my home. It’s tall, wispy, is busy growing seed pods from its stems and blows in any direction the wind is blowing. It has a botanical name but I can never remember it. It seems to reflect and verify that the person who lives here is mimicking its growth pattern by just going in every direction and doing way too much. These flowers are currently shedding their seeds. “Enough” they’re saying. They’re going to take a rest, protect the seeds they dropped, engage in a little self care, and then work on their own strength to prepare for next year’s show. Lots to do but because it’s for themselves, you can’t see it. This season of all that blowing everywhere and anywhere is ending for now.

This is the “in between time” in my garden. The beauty of many of the summer blooms are gone but the burst of fall colors haven’t yet arrived. It’s similar to one of those days that none of us enjoy, ho-hum. Thank goodness for my zinnias, the Joymaker’s space. Those colorful flowers are still making me smile while everything else pales around it. Even the butterflies are still drinking nectar from that rainbow of warmth. The rest of the garden challenged me to look for photo fodder to keep up my daily challenge. The good news – I’m reminded of the importance of looking into things rather than at them; and then appreciate what’s actually happening and how beautiful it can be – in its own way.

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Where did this summer go? Tomorrow is September 1 – really? The kids are back in school, days are shorter, and plants are dying back. Simultaneously, some are so full they resemble children in the back seat of a car trying to claim their own space, “he’s touching me”. I fondly remember those days. So many of us say to our children and grandchildren as they are approaching life milestones such as first grade, graduation, college, marriage – “I can remember holding you when you were just a baby” – so bittersweet. Time does seem to go by quickly, and already I’m realizing I’ll be missing the garden in the not too distant future. I remember when you were just a mere seedling. He-he!

Let’s talk about purple today…or is it violet….or is it lilac…or is it lavender…or maybe orchid? Whatever you call it; it certainly is beautiful and eye catching in the garden. Everyone has a different word to describe this color that’s simultaneously warm and cool. It’s the most intuitive of all colors. It can be rich and royal like the purple velvet robes worn by royalty so many years ago or it can be soft and delicate like a young girl’s accessories. It can be mysterious or associated with spirituality or it can even suggest romance or creativity or even moodiness. Lighter shades can be precious or refined. Sounds like a rainbow all of its own. Perhaps that’s because of the conflicting red and blue base – a little color theory lesson in there. What a fickle color! But fun.

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This is the time of summer in the garden when not much is happening. Nothing new is popping up. I’m getting a tomato here, a tomato there, nothing major, not much at all. We haven’t had any rain, and my flowers as well as myself have been in a holding pattern, ho-hum. There’s always next week. I think I’ll talk about the characteristics of purple…or should I say violet? Enjoy your week.

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If you go to South Park on a Tuesday afternoon you’ll find volunteers working in a demonstration garden who can answer your questions about flowers that do well in our area – even with deer; who knew. These folks are members of the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County and they are testing these beautiful pollinating gardens.

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County will host a special annual event at South Park and North Park on Saturday, August 15, from 9:00am to 1:00pm educating county residents about gardening in our area. They will have tasting stations, tons of information and children’s activities. In addition to this special event and the knowledgeable volunteers, you’ll want to check out their website, Allegheny County Penn State Extension – TONS OF INFORMATION.